Former Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson to retire from NFL

HOUSTON – Veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson announced in a meeting Monday morning with the Tennessee Titans that he intends to retire from the NFL, according to reports.

Johnson played in Houston for 12 season after being drafted No. 3 overall out of Miami in 2003.

Johnson left the Texans prior to the 2015 season to play with AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts, where he had 41 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns.

Johnson's retirement was the talk of the Texans locker room, and came as a surprise to some of his former teammates.

"Pretty shocked," linebacker Brian Cushing said. "you know, obviously, I don't know exactly what the whole cause or reason is for that, but you know, a tremendous teammate and guy I have all the respect in the world for."

Many of his former teammates remembered him as a tough and resilient player.

"I remember times of him getting hit straight in the mouth, (and getting) right back up and running another route. You know, never stayed down," Antonio Smith said.

Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who considered Johnson a mentor, said he believes Johnson is destined for a Hall of Fame spot.

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Johnson joined the Titans for the 2016 season after he was released from the Colts last season.

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"Going back to his days at the University of Miami, Andre was one of the most impressive wide receivers I've scouted, Titans general manger Jon Robinson said in a statement on Titansonline.com. "He had a professional approach to the game both on and off the field and in my opinion is one of the best to have played the game."

In eight games with the Titans, Johnson had nine catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the game-winning touchdown for the Titans against the Lions in week 2.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Johnson reached out to him Sunday night and asked if he could meet with him in the morning.

""He said he's been contemplating it for weeks and his heart was not in it. This is a tough business to be in when your heart's not in it," Mularkey said.

Johnson is the all-time leading receiver in Houston Texans history and a seven-time Pro Bowler with 1,012 catches for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns in 169 contests. In his final season in Houston in 2014, Johnson had 85 receptions for 936 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games.

Johnson retires with 1,062 career receptions, 14,185 career receiving yards and 70 touchdown receptions. He currently ranks 9th all-time in receptions and 10th in yards on the all-time NFL list.

Fans on social media react to Johnson's announcement